the witness box, and that he would only make a declaration in terms of his statement on condition that this banishment order were cancelled. I stated that I was not anxious to have the man back again in the Colony, and I advised that the consideration of Wong Kwok's offer should be deferred. That was accordingly done.
On the 3rd inst. I again reported that I had been informed by one of the Chinese detective staff that Kwok was still anxious to make the declaration referred to in my report of last year, and on the terms mentioned therein. I thought that it would be valuable to have such a declaration, and I asked for authority to obtain it.
At an interview with the Officer Administering the Government, His Excellency expressed his reluctance to accede to the condition stipulated by Wong Kwok. Thereupon I sent to inform Wong Kwok that the Government would not make the promise he desired, and to ask him if he would make a declaration unconditionally.
The reply was brought down by Wong Kwok's wife, who apparently wished to satisfy herself as to the authenticity of the verbal communication from me, and on the 15th instant I reported that Wong Kwok adhered to the condition imposed by him. I had not myself interviewed Mr. Wong Kwok on the 15th inst. as I was unwell, and was not well enough to do so till the 18th instant.
On the 19th inst. I reported to you that I had informed Mrs. Wong Kwok that I could hold out no promise of any remission of her husband's term of banishment, and that I had received no instructions from the Govt. on the subject, and that I had told her that if her husband liked to go to the British Consul at Canton and make his declaration I would forward it to the Government, but that I was not in a position to hold out any hope of indulgence being extended by Government to her husband.
P.C. 137 Hau Han returned with Mrs. Wong Kwok to Canton to convey my answer to her husband. On the 20th inst. the Constable returned with Wong Kwok's declaration which I at once forwarded to You. The Constable's report of how it had been obtained reads as follows:-
I left Hong Kong for Canton at 6pm